Development of Stimuli-responsive Polymer Hybrid Materials

我们的研究计划旨在发现包含有机聚合物和无机纳米颗粒的智能材料，这些材料可以通过响应两种成分的协同作用而产生的刺激来实现特定功能。一方面，利用金纳米颗粒（AuNPs）或纳米棒（AuNRs）产生的光热效应，我们开发了下一代聚合物，不仅可以进行光控可逆变形和运动，而且可以再加工或重塑。另一方面，我们建议开发一种独特类型的纳米反应器和纳米载体，分别用于刺激可切换的催化和刺激控制的货物释放。这些纳米系统是用中空聚合物壳内的AuNP或AuNR或上转换纳米颗粒（UCNP）构建的。通过合理的设计，在水溶液中，聚合物壳可以在温度或pH的微小变化或暴露于光时在溶胀（打开）和收缩（关闭）状态之间切换，这激活或关闭纳米反应器的AuNP的催化活性，或从纳米载体释放货物。这些新型功能材料可以提供前所未有的性能，并找到许多可能的应用。

Our research program aims to discover smart materials comprising an organic polymer and an inorganic nanoparticle, which can accomplish a specific function by responding to stimuli as a result of concerted action of the two constituents. On the one hand, using the photothermal effect generated by gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) or nanorods (AuNRs), we develop the next-generation polymers that not only can undergo light-controlled reversible deformation and motion but also can be reprocessed or reshaped. On the other hand, we propose to develop a unique type of nanoreactors and nanovectors for stimuli-switchable catalysis and stimuli-controlled cargo release, respectively. These nanosystems are built up with either an AuNP or AuNR or upconverting nanoparticle (UCNP) inside a hollow polymer shell. Through rational design, in aqueous solution the polymer shell can switch between a swollen (open) and shrunk (closed) state upon a small change in temperature or pH or upon exposure to light, which activates or shuts down the catalytic activity of AuNPs of the nanoreactor, or the release of cargo from the nanovector. These novel functional materials could offer unprecedented performance and find many possible applications.